Brandwave

How popular isVicks?

In September 2026, people searched for Vicks by name about 135,000 times in the United States, a 22.7% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 8.7% of all United States cold and flu brand searches, placing Vicks sixth out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cold and flu brands, Vicks appeared in one of the five answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Vicks is the sixth most searched of 9 competitors.

  1. MucinexShare of searches 28.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answers
  2. NyQuilShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answers
  3. RobitussinShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answers
  4. TherafluShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answers
  5. VicksShare of searches 8.7%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answers

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Top cold and flu brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Vicks was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Mucinex4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Robitussin2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Delsym2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • NyQuil1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • DayQuil1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vicks1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Theraflu0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Zicam0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Alka-Seltzer Plus0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cold and flu brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 27, 2026.

Which cold and flu brands compete with Vicks?

Vicks against cold and flu brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Mucinex, NyQuil, Robitussin, Theraflu, DayQuil, Vicks, Zicam, Delsym. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMucinexNyQuilRobitussinTherafluDayQuilVicksZicamDelsymAlka-Seltzer Plus
Oct 202530.1%13.5%13.5%11%9%9%7.4%5%1.5%
Nov 202530.6%13.7%11.2%13.7%9.2%7.5%7.5%5%1.5%
Dec 202528.7%12.8%10.5%19.2%8.6%7%7%4.7%1.4%
Jan 202628%12.5%10.2%18.7%8.4%8.4%6.9%5.6%1.4%
Feb 202628%12.5%10.3%15.3%10.3%8.4%8.4%5.6%1.4%
Mar 202633.3%12.2%12.2%12.2%8.1%8.1%6.7%5.5%1.6%
Apr 202634.6%12.7%12.7%10.3%8.5%8.5%5.7%5.7%1.4%
May 202630.2%13.5%13.5%11%9.1%9.1%6.1%6.1%1.5%
Jun 202633.9%12.5%12.5%10.2%8.3%10.2%5.6%5.6%1.4%
Jul 202630.1%13.5%13.5%9.1%9.1%11.1%6.1%6.1%1.5%
Aug 202631.3%14%11.4%11.4%9.4%9.4%6.3%5.1%1.5%
Sep 202628.9%12.9%12.9%12.9%10.6%8.7%7.1%4.7%1.4%

  1. 1.Mucinex

    28.9%

    Held 1st. 450K estimated branded searches, +49.5% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

  2. 2.NyQuil

    12.9%

    Held 2nd. 201K estimated branded searches, +48.9% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  3. 3.Robitussin

    12.9%

    Held 3rd. 201K estimated branded searches, +82.7% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.

  4. 4.Theraflu

    12.9%

    Held 4th. 201K estimated branded searches, +82.7% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.

  5. 5.DayQuil

    10.6%

    Held 5th. 165K estimated branded searches, +82.3% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.

  6. 6.Vicks

    8.7%

    Held 6th. 135K estimated branded searches, +49.2% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  7. 7.Zicam

    7.1%

    Held 7th. 110K estimated branded searches, +81.8% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  8. 8.Delsym

    4.7%

    Held 8th. 74K estimated branded searches, +49.5% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  9. 9.Alka-Seltzer Plus

    1.4%

    Held 9th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, +50% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Vicks and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Vicks

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Vicks changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Vicks in the United States rose from 110K to 135K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Vicks’ share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United States peaked at 11.1% in July 2026 and was lowest at 7% in December 2025.

How did search popularity change for United States cold and flu brands in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Robitussin gained share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United States, from 11.4% to 12.9%.

  2. In September 2026, Theraflu gained share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United States, from 11.4% to 12.9%.

  3. In September 2026, DayQuil gained share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United States, from 9.4% to 10.6%.

  4. In September 2026, Zicam gained share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United States, from 6.3% to 7.1%.

  5. In September 2026, Mucinex lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United States, from 31.3% to 28.9%.

  6. In September 2026, NyQuil lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United States, from 14% to 12.9%.

How are Vicks’ branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Vicks’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • vicks vaporub

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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